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August 9, 2010

G113: Red Sox 2, Yankees 1

Boston got two runs and five hits in its first time through the lineup, then watched as Lester (6-4-0-3-6, 99), Daniel Bard (1.1-2-1-1-2, 38), and Jonathan Papelbon (1.1-0-0-1-3, 22) kept the Yankees at bay to split the four-game series.

Ryan Kalish singled with one out in the second. He stole second, went to third on Dumbo's throwing error, and scored on Bill Hall's single. Jacoby Ellsbury singled and Hall took third. Ellsbury stole second and Marco Scutaro walked. J.D. Drew grounded to second to bring in the second run.

In the seventh, Ellsbury was hit in the shin with a pitch. He quickly stole second and, after Drew walked, they pulled off a double steal. But Victor Martinez, who had the Sox's lone hit after the second inning, struck out to end the rally.

Lester did not allow a hit until the fifth inning, although he walked three batters up to that point. In the bottom of the seventh, after the Sox missed an opportunity to pad their lead, Jorge Posada singled, Marcus Thames doubled off the top of the wall in right-center -- missing a game-tying home run by an inch or two -- and Austin Kearns was plunked in the back leg. Bases loaded, no outs.

Lester struck out Curtis Granderson on four pitches (fsbs) and Terry Francona called on Bard. With the game on the line, Bard struck out both Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher on three pitches each.

Bard was tagged for a long home run to right by Mark Teixeira to start the eighth. Then Alex Rodriguez singled. In a long battle with Robinson Cano -- 6 pitches and 4 throws to first -- Bard got a grounder to second. Pinch-runner Brett Gardner took second. Bard walked Posada on four pitches. After Bard retired pinch-hitter Lance Berkman on a fly to shallow left, Tito went to Papelbon.

Bot needed only one pitch to escape the jam, getting Kearns to ground out to second.

In the ninth, after striking out Granderson, Papelbon walked Jeter, who then stole second. It did not matter, as Swisher and Teixeria both struck out.

The ball-strike accuracy of home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt was abysmal all afternoon. At times, more accurate calls might have been made by flipping a coin.

So Boston is back with 6 GB New York in the East with four more days whittled off the calendar. There are 49 games left to play. ... The Rays beat the Tigers 6-3.

Lester is a bit of a funk, with a 4.39 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break. He was bothered by a cramp in his left hamstring in his last start -- five innings against Cleveland on Wednesday -- but he says he is fine. He was dehydrated during the game, and his wife had given birth several days before.

Notes: Carlos Delgado worked out in Pawtucket on Sunday. He might DH today. ... Dustin Pedroia is pushing to be back in the lineup on August 17, his 27th birthday. ... Jason Varitek took BP on the field for the first time since he fractured his right foot. ... Kevin Youkilis may rejoin the team as a cheerleader in Texas next weekend.

There's a writer I know of who used to write for AskMen.com and is now a stay-at-home dad and still freelances. He has a blog that is all pictures of different baby-related things and they all have a post-it note attached to them with a funny message about the baby or parenting.

Today's said, "Used the strap-on w/the wife for the first time this weekend. That's what those front-of-the-chest baby carriers are called, right? Why are you giggling?"

That's totally what they should rename Victory Day. If you're going to be one of two states in the country with an extra holiday in early August, just be honest and call it Extra Holiday in Early August Day, or "Civic Holiday" for short.

tmrw will be it for me until sunday. going away for a cottage/fishing extended weekend starting wednesday night before i have to start the study process for my final accounting exam next monday.

don't worry - its a 9-5 monday to friday study schedule - meaning theres no way i'll be missing the party this year.

if you guys are still around (or if its on again sometime later) theres a sweet program on sportsnet ontario right now called "this week in baseball" about the dominican system and how mlb plucks players from there.